GPS

[KIJIMA]

I am looking at a sat nav atm, its specs are below. The question I have though, is this any good? Its cheap. $436 so I'm guessing its the old technology, but is it good value?

LCD Type 3.5” Digital TFT LCD
LCD Brightness 350 cd
Display Resolution 320 x 240 pixels
Display Color 16.7M Color Screen
Touch Screen Enabled
CPU Samsung 2440 400Mhz
FLASH/ RAM 32MB Flash/64MB RAM
Storage Type SD/MMC Plus Memory Type
Storage Capacity 128MB, 256MB, 512MB, 1GB (2GB)(4G)
Memory Card Slot Push-In & Push-Out
Built-In GPS Module Sirf III (SirfstarIII)
Built-In Battery Rechargeable Lithium-Ion / 720mA
Speaker 8 ohm, 1 Watts Speaker x 2 (Stereo)
Installation Windshield-Suction Mount
O/S Microsoft WinCE.Net Core Version 4.2
Map Data Whereis® Version 13
Map Upload Type SD/MMC Plus Memory Card
Storage Temp Range -20°C to + 70°C
Operating Temp Range 0°C to + 45°C
Voice Voice Prompts
TMC Connection Port Ear Jack Type 2.5Ô (4 Pin, RS-232C Interface)
Audio Out Jack Ear Jack 3.5 (Stereo)
Optional Premium Menu Audio (mp3, wav), Video (avi), Photo (bmp, jpg, gif, png.) Slide Show etc.
Setting Brightness Adjustment, Calibration, Time Clock, Language Selection etc.

[Benny]

Navman will be replacing virtually their entire series of units with new models very soon, so as you are now in the know, you should be able to bargain down the prices somewhat.

[SPy vs. SPy]

I am looking at a sat nav atm, its specs are below. The question I have though, is this any good? Its cheap. $436 so I'm guessing its the old technology, but is it good value?

LCD Type 3.5” Digital TFT LCD
LCD Brightness 350 cd
Display Resolution 320 x 240 pixels
Display Color 16.7M Color Screen
Touch Screen Enabled
CPU Samsung 2440 400Mhz

sounds like a
http://www.buygpsnow.com/3-5-myguide-3050-portable-gps-navigation-system-click-add-to-cart-to-view-50-instant-rebate-760.aspx

reviews
http://bensbargains.net/deal/14286/

entry #9 sums it up.

[NMX516]

have all you garmin freaks tried anything else?
when buying mine, i tried a few and the tomtom was easily the quickest, and easiest to use..
navman was the worst imho.

Yep, sold GPS units for a living for 5 years. Sold Garmin, TomTom, Mio, as well as software for PDA's such as travroute and Destinator. Garmin have better warranty's than any of the other brands I'm aware of, and we had very little problem with them. If a Garmin unit has problems outside the warranty period and can't be fixed at a reasonable price, they will offer you a replacement unit at approx half the cost of a new one... They also have great mapping and support for other countries if that is important for you. Very easy to use, which was often the clincher when people had seen/used other brands as well...

While I never sold Navman, I just heard the complaints from customers who had them, having said that, I have heard good things about them as well. I just know how good Garmin is, so personally I wouldn't consider anything else Each to their own though.

Link

[Tom]

Thanks for all the comments.

We will be spending 3 months in USA/Canada next year so the GPS will need to be able to access foreign maps as well. I take it all brands would be able to do this?

Tom

[Tom]

I've got a tom tom and love it!
why are you set on everything else but?

My attempt at a bit of humour obviously didn't work. Would someone called Tom buy a TomTom

Tom

[Tom]

Bob has a GPS so ight be able to chat to him as well.

Bob hasn't turned up for a run in ages! His GPS obviously doesn't work!

Tom

[NMX516]

Thanks for all the comments.

We will be spending 3 months in USA/Canada next year so the GPS will need to be able to access foreign maps as well. I take it all brands would be able to do this?

Tom

Not necessarily... The major brands should be able to suppport this however. Double check for the unit you are considering, before you buy. Garmin has full mapping for the US and Canada, which will suit any of their units.

[Tom]

Not necessarily... The major brands should be able to suppport this however. Double check for the unit you are considering, before you buy. Garmin has full mapping for the US and Canada, which will suit any of their units.

Thanks for the warning.

Tom

[KIJIMA]

Well, I ended up getting the 3050, and its rubbish! Luckily I didnt end up paying for it, so I cant complain there, but still... Its not crash hot!

[Sean]

I've just bought tomtom one. My folks have an advances Tomtom, not sure what model and have maps for a few european countries as they spend a lot of time OS. I liked thiers, and also had a play on lowmiata's one when he was last in town...

Looking around there was lots of highly featured units, but all i needed was basic navigation so I went for the nicely proced tomtom one.

Cheers
Sean

[SPy vs. SPy]

Me, I'm soon to be the daddy of a Nuvi 610 and a Nokia Navigator, first one is because I want a GPS and second one is because it's about the only 3.5G phone that may do what I wish from it

Took the Nuvi back, found out, to my dismay, it like every other GPS under $1,000,000,000 doesn't multi route

Now getting a Zumo 550, which I understand also makes Tea & Scones

Nokia is a nice bit of gear too, and I can select 2G coverage and lock onto it no more EEEEFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFing call dropouts.

[Wotsa]

I have Tom Tom 5 on a Palm I-Life PDA linked to a Bluetooth GPS receiver and it does the business. Last Thursday I replaced my mobile phone with a Nokia 6110 Navigator. It has a built in GPS receiver and has Route 66 software and Australia Maps installed. Excellent little kit, although the display is a bit smaller, it is faster and just as accurate as the Tom Tom. Has some better features as well. And only one item to lug around!

One of the best things about GPS is the accuracy of the speed readout, good for checking your car speedo and particularly useful when setting cruise control.

Then i found the Nokia Sports Tracker at http://research.nokia.com/research/proj ... tsTracker/. A free download.

Although developed with running and walking activities in mind, this handy software is also useful for driving and allows you to data log your journey and overlay it on Google Earth. The key info transferred to Google earth apart from the route is the highest and lowest point and fastest speed. But the data on the phone is better, including:duration, distance, Avg speed, max speed, avg time (minutes) per km, and max speed (minutes) per km. It generates speed v time, speed v distance and altitude v distance graphs.

See the examples provided on the site.

Oh, and the Nokia 6110 Navigator makes phone calls and all that stuff.

[marcusus]

Bought a Mio C310 for Mum's birthday yesterday, and used it today to go down the coast and back. Quite good, although there are some slight interface issues that could've been done better. However, I'm a bit biased like that since I program GUIs as part of my job

It's relatively basic in that the only (default) functionality it comes with is the GPS and an mp3 player (with an expandable SD memory slot), but it does the job well enough. Directions are clear, and there's lots of little bonus functions to do with GPS like calculating the route based on fastest/shortest distance/economy, and being able to add locations of speed and red light cameras not currently listed. Automatic direction recalculation as well.

The only thing I really wanted (and Mum asked about) was an in built FM transmitter so you could broadcast your mp3s and directions over the car stereo, but you can always buy an external kit, although you'll probably use the ciggy lighter for that rather than the GPS if I get one.

[Old EmmGee]

I have been looking at a number of units, and used a few as well.

I do not like the PDA-based solutions (or mobile phones) that run software under Windows CE (usually i-GO) as I get fed up with the windows 'artefacts' (variable time response to button presses; long start-up times; extras that aren't needed; a need to discover where the Reset button is).

I used to be a fan of Navman, but find it difficult these days to keep up with whatever model is current this week (although my old favourite was the iCN520).

The Roadangel was a complete dog, but I think the more recent models have improved significantly.

I cannot go past the TomTom - the One and new One XL are fantastic in that they're easy to use and appear relaible. Fast, clear and one of the simplest user interfaces around - and well priced.

I use a Garmin eTrex for bushwalking and so on, and love it, but hate the Garmin navigatr systems as being way too complex (user interface is bloody impossible with an enyclopedic knowledge required to navigate the levels of sub-menus).

Go with the majority - TomTom make excellent products and you can easily get maps for anywhere in the world you care to explore.